Enrollment
481
Maryland · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Baltimore, MD
Essex Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Essex Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240012000384
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Essex Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Maryland schools.
- #106 of 177
- schools in Baltimore · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 65.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Essex Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Essex Elementary ranks #106 of 177 schools in Baltimore, MD.
School address
District: Baltimore County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240012000384 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.2:1
vs 14.5:1 Maryland avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.4%
vs 49.0% Maryland avg
+33% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Essex Elementary compares with Maryland and U.S. medians
What stands out at Essex Elementary
Essex Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Baltimore, Maryland, enrolling 481 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Maryland schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 65.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 481 students, its enrollment sits close to the Maryland median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,382 scored Maryland schools.
Among 311 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Maryland schools statewide, it ranks #229, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 481 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Baltimore's public schools, it stands alongside Roland Park Elementary/Middle (1,371 students): Essex Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.2:1 vs 19.6:1).
Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students) and Perry Hall High (2,012 students) alongside Essex Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Essex Elementary compares
Essex Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▲ 19% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.4% | ▲ 33% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 481 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
481
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
65.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 83% in Maryland - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,538
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $20,446
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 481 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 42.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.8%
African American 16.8%
Two or More 10.0%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: White at 42.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.6, Essex Elementary is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Baltimore County Public Schools, which includes Essex Elementary.
$16,538
Per student
-19%
vs Maryland
Avg $20,446
0%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 47.3%
State 40.7%
Federal 12.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Essex Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Perry Hall High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Woodlawn High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dulaney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Essex Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,922
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,889
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Baltimore
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Roland Park Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
1,371 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Lakeland Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
1,070 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
1,061 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Academy for College and Career Exploration
Standard public school
967 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Hampstead Hill Academy
Standard public school
933 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
The Belair-Edison School
Standard public school
911 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Maryland, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~481 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Essex Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Essex Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Baltimore County Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Essex Elementary
How many students attend Essex Elementary?
Essex Elementary has 481 students enrolled. It is a public school in Baltimore, MD.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Essex Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Essex Elementary is 17.2:1, which is 19% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Essex Elementary?
65.4% of students at Essex Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Essex Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Essex Elementary is White at 42.8% of enrollment, in Baltimore, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Essex Elementary?
Essex Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Essex Elementary rank among schools in Baltimore?
By Resource Investment Index, Essex Elementary ranks #106 of 177 schools in Baltimore, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Baltimore on the city page.
Is Essex Elementary a good school?
Essex Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Maryland schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Baltimore County Public Schools?
Besides Essex Elementary, Baltimore County Public Schools also operates Dundalk High (2,087 students), Perry Hall High (2,012 students), and Woodlawn High (1,922 students). See the Baltimore County Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.